Seizing the lion’s share of US$2.75bn global shea butter market – the Nuts for Growth way

By Samuel OWUSU-ADUOMI

Over 300 exhibitors from across the horticulture value chain gathered at the Accra International Conference Centre from 11–13 June 2025 for the second edition of the Ghana Horticulture Expo.

The event, jointly organised by the Federation of Associations of Ghanaian Exporters (FAGE) and the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA), in partnership with Ghana Exim Bank, aimed to spotlight the country’s export potential in fruits, vegetables, and ornamental plants.

Under the theme ‘Innovate, transform, sustain: Driving growth in Ghana’s horticultural sector’, the event attracted local and international visitors to try products, network and take part in the nine panel discussions.

The Expo brought together ecosystem players including banks, tech-firms and processors to promote industrialisation of the domestic horticulture sector as a key driver for the country’s US$3.8billion non-traditional exports.

Nuts for Growth Ltd. (N4G) – a three-factory complex owned by one of West Africa’s largest and most modern industrial shea butter processing companies with 300MTPD crushing capacity – drew considerable interest from visitors at its forest-to-factory exhibition booth: giving visitors a rare opportunity to taste the nutrient-dense shea fruit for the first time; learn about the inclusive supply chain in Northern Ghana, Women for Change; understand shea butter production; and try consumer samples of high-quality, laboratory-tested products that testify to the export-quality of its refined shea butter.

“We stand at a pivotal moment,” says founder and Chief Executive Officer Dora Haborsutei Torwiseh. “Our experience proves Ghana can lead the world in sustainable agribusiness. But no single company can transform an ecosystem. We invite all stakeholders to join this movement – from policymakers enabling our progress to financial partners backing our expansion and, especially, the women and youth who power this industry.”

From Ghana to the World

Shea butter production is a national heritage, a unique and rare West Africa-based sector and one of few women-led industries in the world. It has made Ghana the leading go-to market for high-quality shea butter based on inclusiveness, use of non-timber forest products and centuries-old knowledge.

As an edible oil, shea butter remains a source of artisanal trade and rural food security in northern Ghana.

The diverse chemical and physical properties of shea butter have led to its application in various personal care products. Following the EU regulation in 2000 that permitted use of shea butter as a cocoa butter equivalent, demand for shea butter exploded. With global demand for chocolate expected to grow at 4.0 percent CAGR on average, global demand for high-quality shea butter will continue to outstrip the capacity of artisanal shea butter production – requiring local entrepreneurs like Madam Torwiseh to consider a bold strategy that combines inclusion, sustainability and industrialisation.

Nuts for Growth aligns with Ghana’s industrial agenda and global sustainability goals including women empowerment (SDG 5); renewable energy (SDG 7); circular systems (SDG 12); and carbon reduction (SDG 13). It sets the blueprint for using state-of-the-art technology, an inclusive digitalised supply chain, sustainable energy and research and development to create a competitive sector leader in Africa.

Technology: N4G uses sustainable solvent technology to cost-efficiently maximise shea butter extraction, create premium grade refined shea butter and meet growing demand for high-quality shea butter for large, downstream international manufacturers.

Its equipment recaptures the solvent for re-use, thus improving efficiency. N4G is one of few processors that can meet the standards of blue-chip companies.

Inclusion: Women for Change is N4G’s ethical supply chain platform that is arguably the largest shea nut supplier base in West Africa, with over 81,000 women and youth organised into 270 shea cooperatives in the five northern regions. Nuts for Growth has launched a digital blockchain technology to register the suppliers for traceability and proof of compliance with the upcoming EU Deforestation Regulation.

Under Women for Change, Nuts for Growth is driving dignified rural development through community leadership; youth vocational training, literacy and primary education; family and maternal healthcare; improved access to potable water, sustainable briquettes and clean stoves; and access to farm equipment and collection vehicles.

Nuts for Growth expects to offtake soya from Women for Change for its 150MTPD soya mill in 2026, allowing the company to supply soya oil in the region as part of regional food security.

Sustainability: N4G launched various initiatives to achieve its goal of 100 percent circularity and clean supply chain by 2030. First, its 12MT/hour steam boiler consumes all the shell nut waste and 40MT of shea cake byproduct for steam production, with 95% of water recaptured for recycling and 100% of the boiler ash used as critical potash fertiliser.

Second, Nuts for Growth is supplying Women for Change with clean stoves to reduce firewood consumption by up to 30%. Finally, Nuts for Growth expects to commission a briquetting plant in the medium-term and convert biomass waste into sustainable briquettes for its boiler and for farmers to transition from firewood consumption.

R&D: Nuts for Growth continues to invest in R&D, including the ongoing formulation of shea and soya cake as local poultry feed ingredients to enhance the local poultry sector’s competitiveness.

Currently, the company exports up to 40 percent of its shea cake as feed ingredient to key markets in Europe and Asia. Other research and development initiatives include a digitalisation programme and poultry livelihood under Women for Change.

The 24-Hour Economy and 2030 vision 

Nuts for Growth is proud to be part of the 24-Hour Economy in northern Ghana through agro-industrialisation. Its three-shift shea processing plant with over 450 people employed is ready for a fourth shift, while its soya mill is expected to initially create at least 300 jobs in 2026.

To achieve goals of the 24-Hour Economy and support Ghana in capturing a greater share of the growing US$2.75billion shea butter market, Nuts for Growth is proposing the following:

Regulatory support for shea butter processing: Nuts for Growth supports Ghana climbing up the shea butter value chain. However, like any other natural resource, the entire shea butter value chain must have ample access to raw shea nuts to maintain year-round stock, support 24-hour manufacturing and long-term investments in large scale shea butter processing. For this to occur, government should consider a holistic industrial policy that supports the industry.

Rural and supply chain investments: Agro-industrialisation requires stable, consistent and growing rural supply chains. A healthy 24-hour economy cannot thrive on a supply chain marked by urban migration, poverty and exploitation.

For Nuts for Growth this means continuing to transform its Women for Change into a rural development platform with over 300,000 women and youth in northern Ghana, providing them with dignified rural livelihoods – including micro-poultry farming and equipment and access to healthcare, education, financing and climate-resilient technology. We invite public partners to join our private-led programes and generate high social returns on investment.

Accessible growth capital: Finally, scaling 24-hour operations to compete globally, create jobs and drive the economy forward requires an enabling access to finance. Nuts for Growth is calling for innovative blended finance and public impact-investment tools that ensure key private actors like us can continue to invest in modern technology, R&D and supply chains over the medium-term.

Blended finance through tailored rates, maturities and terms allows committed public and private investors to support sector champions in higher value-added manufacturing, inclusive job creation and climate transition initiatives. Access to conducive growth capital is imperative for Nuts for Growth as it seeks to drive Ghana toward value-added shea butter.

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